Design and Development of a Parametric Model to Convert 3D Scans into Upper Limb Prostheses
In low- to middle-income countries such as India, many people with disabilities lack access to the rehabilitation and assistive devices they need. According to the World Health Organization, only one in ten people have access to the necessary assistive products. In India, official statistics indicate that there are more than half a million amputees. Reported issues associated with physical disabilities include difficulty performing daily activities, earning income, and discrimination.
The challenges faced by upper limb amputees in India, specific to prosthetic rehabilitation, include limited access to support and the high cost of the product. Prosthetics companies also experience challenges in the design and use of their technology, such as inadequate use of prostheses by patients, lack of availability of appropriate materials, and limited empirical data. Life and Limb aims to increase user uptake and satisfaction of prosthetics by developing new products with sophisticated features to meet individual patients’ specific needs and preferences.
This project aimed to support Life and Limb in streamlining the process for creating customized upper limb prosthetics by specializing in parametric modelling, ensuring the 3D models of the prostheses are refined and optimized to meet the unique needs of individual patients.
Primarily, the fellow worked in collaboration with the Life and Limb team to establish a systematic workflow for capturing hand data through 3D scanning. 3D models of upper limb prosthetics were created and refined using parametric modelling techniques. The 3D models were also fine-tuned and optimized to ensure a precise fit and functional design for each patient. Additionally, the parametric modelling procedures were recorded and overall process documentation was developed for future reference and training.
As a result, the optimized parametric models in Autodesk Fusion 360 workspace have been provided to the Life and Limb team, along with the efficient design workflow guidelines and streamlined processes that seamlessly integrate 3D scanning and parametric models.
Life and Limb Bionicli® prosthetic. Attribution: Life and Limb
